Classique goes contemporary for Pitch Black Tempo

Classique is going contemporary for a full show for the first time in an upcoming production since selling itself as just that, a contemporary dance company.

“It’s all contemporary and there is something exciting about that, exciting and particularly demanding,” director Clive Prowell said.

20090627classique‘Pitch Black Tempo’ is Classique as it should be according to Prowell — solid and at home in contemporary dance. The company is so “at home” that Prowell has allowed a few of the dancers to choreograph numbers and these include John Reman, Paul Charles and Travis Bowen.

Coming off ‘De Edge’, which failed to live up to expectations, the company is feeling some pressure. Sloppy is not a word that the company is comfortable with yet the previous production bordered on it.

“Pitch Black is a serious show and we upped our technique, but not only that, we have regrouped and are more focused than we have been in a long time,” Prowell said.

The reloaded and “more focused” Classique is seeking redemption in Pitch Black Tempo and this is the only shot left for the year since there are no other planned productions for 2009.

For Pitch Black Tempo the company will offer up the usual two segment show the first half being ‘Pitch Black’ and the latter half tagged as Tempo. Prowell said the production is different in the sense that every item tells a story and not the segment as had happened in past productions.

Pitch Black sticks to contemporary dance in its truest form, according to the director while the other half is punctuated with a Classique flavour. Prowell said that people are simply going to appreciate what they have done with contemporary dance.

But are they going to love it? He is of the opinion that Classique has been caught up in a web of high expectations while it is still growing.

“I don’t want people to come and expect too much, which is not to say that we don’t have a good show planned, but the dancers are still working on their strength and technique… honestly we are about five years away from where we want to be,” he added.

Prowell was quick to note that he rarely allows the dancers to “slack up”. He said that they are constantly reminded of the role Classique plays in sustaining dance here, and of how important it is for the dance company to evolve.

“Truth be told I don’t put an item on stage that I am not comfortable with, it just does not happen. I am comfortable with every single item in this new show,” Prowell said.

He said that company is still a far way from realizing its goal of getting dancers to train overseas and underscored the issue of a lack of support from corporate Guyana. He pointed out that two of the dancers are expected to wing out next month for a short stint at the Debbie Allen dance academy.

Over the past month Classique’s Dance School was launched and already dancers as young as four years-old have been signed up. Prowell said the company has 16 dancers who will remain separate from the dancers in the school.

Pitch Black Tempo was originally slated for June 28, but it was bumped from that date to allow for preparations for the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting. The show is now slated for July 6, Caricom day. Tickets are $1,000 and $500 and reports recently indicated that they are selling out.